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Monday, February 16, 2015

Theo Darcy Visits!

Susan, I cannot thank you enough for persuading Mr. Theophilus Darcy to visit More Agreeably Engaged and be so 'agreeable' as to answer the questions we readers have asked about him. I must say how excited I am to have him here. My heart is all 'a flutter'! So, without further delay, here he is...Theo Darcy! (sorry...and you, too, Susan)

Thank you, Janet for inviting Theo and me to visit your blog.
Everyone always wants to know more about Theo, so I decided to try and get
answers to some questions people have asked about him. He was even more cooperative
than I had expected. I hope you and your readers enjoy hearing from him.

SMM: We'll start
out with something easy, Theo. Who's the best horseman in your family?

Theo: That is an
easy one! My cousin Fitzwilliam would say he holds that honor, but I must
humbly disagree with him. There are few better than I. My brother also has a
good seat, but he is more a more cautious rider.

SMM: Who wins when
you race your brother?

Theo: (Theo raises
an eyebrow) How did you know we race?

SMM: Just a guess,
but boys will be boys.

Theo: When we were
younger, William always won, but I have evened the score over the years. I do
not think he has beaten me since I acquired Theseus.

SMM: Who's the best
practical joker you know?

Theo: I can
definitely claim that title for myself! At school, there was a teacher who
always unfairly took out his tempers on his students. One Sunday evening when
he was out, we sneaked into his rooms and whisked all the furniture away to the
attic. I would have given anything to have seen his face when he returned that
evening, but as you know, the very best practical jokers never stay around for
the reveal.

SMM: Did you get
caught?

Theo: (Theo grins)
You have to ask?

SMM: We know you
drew a picture of Lady Catherine as a bat with fangs. Any other caricatures of
her lurking around?

Theo: I confess she
is one of my favorite subjects. I loved the one of the bat, but I think my
masterpiece showed her as a vulture. That one I burned, but not until I'd shown
it to my cousin Fitzwilliam. He seems to appreciate my artistic efforts even
though my brother does not.

SMM: Have you done
caricatures of any other family members or friends?

Theo: Almost no one
is immune! I will tell you something if you promise not to tell my brother.

SMM: Yes, of course
we’ll keep your secret.

Theo: William is
another of my favorite subjects to sketch. The best one I call "His
Highness, Prince William." It shows him in regal robes with crown and
septre, sitting on a throne. However, the throne looks very much like a chamber
pot. I burned that one, too. Even thinking about it now makes me laugh.

SMM: We know you
met Monty at school, but under what circumstances?

Theo: Monty was the
biggest boy in school, and as a result, he was always being challenged. One day
three older boys decided they would show him he was not as tough as he thought
he was. I do not think Monty had done anything to cause offense. They just took
his size as a challenge. I was walking from one of my classes back to my rooms
when I came across the three boys who had cornered Monty and were trying to
pommel him. I saw what was happening and the next thing I knew, he and I were
back to back, holding the others off -- and winning. Monty's technique was
somewhat lacking but no one could match him for sheer strength. He is much
faster than you might think, too. After that, we became the best of friends. I
taught him how to use his fists more effectively, and later he got me out of
several scrapes.

SMM: Who's more
popular with the ladies - you or Monty?

Theo: (Theo
blushes) As you know, my friend recently lost his father which means he has
inherited a baronetcy. He was already a tall, good-looking fellow, and now with
a title, he will have every matchmaking mama after him. I certainly do not envy
him.

SMM: That doesn't
answer my question.

Theo: Oh, yes, you
asked which of us was more popular with the ladies. I am not certain that is an
assessment I can accurately make. Some prefer him; others prefer me. We try not
to compete for the same lady's attentions, and fortunately, there are plenty to
go around in Town.

SMM: Speaking of
competing, in the story The Darcy Brothers, you and your brother are
both attracted to the same young lady. Tell me what that was like.

Theo: Although I
did not know William had made Miss Bennet's acquaintance prior to our trip to
Rosings, I quickly discovered his preference for her. Once I recognized that,
there was really no question of competing with him for her affections. She is
exactly the right woman in disposition and talents to bring him happiness in
marriage. I am also hoping she is able to soften some of his sharper edges a
bit. While I found her quite captivating and also enjoy tormenting my brother,
I would never stand in the way of his happiness. I quickly resolved to do
everything in my power to help bring them together.

SMM: What are the
characteristics or qualities you find attractive in a woman?

Theo: (Theo smiles)
A good sense of humor is essential! I also like a woman who does not feign
ignorance or behave in a silly manner just to attract my attention. I like
intelligent, well-read ladies who can carry on a real conversation.

SMM: What about
beauty?

Theo: Of course, a
pretty face and a pleasing form are important, too, but these are not enough
without more substance. I find that very beautiful women are generally much too
preoccupied with themselves, and I lose interest very quickly. I must also
reiterate what I have said many times - I am not ready for a leg shackle just
yet so do not be jumping to conclusions.

SMM: What attracted
you to the practice of law?

Theo: Although I
receive a generous allowance from William, I knew in the long term I would never
be content with just the usual pursuits of gentlemen of my class -- although I
do enjoy a night on the town and flirting with the ladies. The law began to
intrigue me after sitting in on some disputes my father had to settle between
Pemberley's tenants. Being a solicitor seemed rather boring. Too much
paperwork. What I like is solving puzzles, digging around for facts no one else
has uncovered, and having to think quickly on my feet. I am pleased to say I
have become rather good at my work. Having Mr. Garrow as my mentor has been a
great boon to my career, too. I have thought about becoming a judge at some
point, but it does not seem like nearly as much fun. What if I had a
particularly late night and fell asleep during a boring trial? That would never
do. No, I am better off, at least for the moment, in a more active role.

SMM: I understand
you’ve had a soap named after you. Any comment on that?

Theo: You are
joking with me. Soap?

SMM: No, I am very
serious. One of your fans specifically wished me to ask what you thought of
your soap.

Theo: I admit I
enjoy a good bath especially after riding or a trying day in court. (Theo
pauses to run a hand through his hair) I do hope my soap is not one of those
heavy, cloying scents as I prefer a light, clean smell. I also enjoy a light
fragrance on a woman, too, such as lavender or lemon.

Theo: I must order
some immediately! (He suddenly looks confused) What is Etsy?

SMM: Thank you,
Theo, for giving us more insight into your character. Best of luck with your
next court case. We hope to hear more about you in the future.

AUTHOR BIOS:

In addition
to their collaborative effort in The
Darcy Brothers, Monica Fairview, Maria Grace, Cassandra Grafton, Susan
Mason-Milks and Abigail Reynolds between them have published over two dozen
Austen-inspired books, including national bestsellers.

Monica
Fairview (Mr. Darcy’s Pledge) holds
down the fort for the team in London while Abigail Reynolds (Alone with Mr. Darcy) supplies cute cat
pictures from Cape Cod, Susan Mason-Milks (Mr.
Darcy’s Proposal) inspires with views of the Seattle skyline, Maria Grace (Remember the Past) frolics in the Texas
bluebells, and British expat Cassandra Grafton (A Fair Prospect) has the critical responsibility of keeping the
team supplied with much-needed chocolate from her home in Switzerland.

Up for grabs in this giveaway are two eBook copies of The Darcy Brothers. To enter the giveaway contest, simply leave a comment or ask Theo or the
authors a question. Be sure to include your email with your comment.

You can increase your chances of winning by visiting multiple stops along
the tour! Unique guest posts will be featured on a variety of subjects, along
with fun interviews with Theo Darcy and, if he can be persuaded, his brother,
excerpts, and supplementary material such as letters from Theo to his friends
and family. Doesn't this sound like fun? I hope you will have the opportunity to visit the other stops along the tour. I have been anxiously awaiting the stop at my blog.

~~~~

Below are the links for purchasing The Darcy Brothers and the links for each of the authors:

Please ask Theo or any of the fine authors your questions in the comments! Thanks for stopping by and a special thanks to Theo Darcy and Susan Mason-Milks for the very entertaining interview. It is such a pleasure having you visit. I have been reading this delightful book and am quite smitten with this brother too! :)

36 comments:

It is always a delight to be in company with you, Mister Darcy. I do have a question that, for me, begs a direct answer from you. What is your opinion of Miss Bingley's definition of an accomplished lady? Apparently, your brother gave little consideration to Miss Bingley's opinion and that gave me pause to consider yours.

Please accept my best wishes for the remainder of your travels. I have been reading the columns and find an occasional mention of mischief. Let us hope that Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy chooses not to read the same pages.

Theo was tied up on court today and now he's out on the town with Monty celebrating winning his case. He has asked me to respond for him. Theo says he's heard about MIss Bingley's list of accomplishments from his sister, Georgiana. He thinks she listed only those accomplishments and qualities which she has in order to make herself look better. Theo thinks there are other qualities more important than just "accomplishments." For example, the abiity to listen and make people feel comfortable and welcome. In those areas, Miss Bingley is sadly lacking!

That was a most enlightening interview. I enjoyed hearing more about your friendship with Monty and you views on admirable qualities in friends and ladies, Mr. Theo (is that the right way to address you? It seems strange to call you Mr. Darcy and yet we are not so well acquainted that I would presume to call you by your given name.)

Love the interview, especially about the comment where you mentioned that you found out your brother was interested in Miss Bennet and you did everything in your power to get them together... not without a little tormenting.

I look forward to your additional interviews while you are on tour. Looking forward to reading the book. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. My email address is tdungnvu (at) yahoo (dot) com

What a lovely interview. Thank you Theo. I do have a question for you, sir. I love riding horses & if we ever get the opportunity to meet, I challenge you to a race. One other question...in university....what subject did you enjoy the most....science, history, literature or mathematics and why did you like that subject....What languages do you speak other than English.....German, French, Italian? I speak German. Please do not enter me in the giveaway. I already have the eBook. Thank you for the generous give away.

Oh what a lovely interview! It mjust be exhausting as a single male dodging all the mothers with marriagable duaghters. I come from a large family of many personalities and can identify in a few of them your fun loving traits. I am looking forward to more interviews while you are on tour. It will be like a refreshing letter from home.

Thanks for the oppoortunity of the giveaway. My email address is louannlajeunesse@gmail.com.

Theo, I hope that you are kind to your brother and do not torment him too much. After all, there are many women out there who are madly in love with Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, including moi. I look forward to reading about you!!Hope I win the ebook. Catherine Commons

Having read along as Theo and this story was created, it is such a pleasure to see it published and follow along on the blog tour. Congratulations authors. So good to see you again, Theo. Thank you for the giveaway.Cherringtonmb at sbcglobal dot net

You are a good brother, Theo, for seeing William's affection for Elizabeth Bennett and encouraging their relationship even if you do tease "Prince William". Thank you for the giveaway. I truly would love to win an ebook of The Darcy Brothers!evamedmonds(at)gmail(dot)com

Lovely interview, Susan and Mr. Theo Darcy. It's good to see you doing your best to try to get along better with your brother. I appreciate he must be provoking at times but he did have rather a lot thrust upon him at a relatively young age, didn't he?

I am married to a retired lawyer, Mr. Theo, and although I didn't understand many of the finer points of the law as practised here in Britain, I learned enough to see that it could be a fascinating subject. I'd be interested to know which aspect of it interests you the most?

Theo says he likes solving puzzles. Being a barrister in court is a little like playing chess with a very short timer for making your next move. You always have to be thinking several moves ahead in order to be effective in court. He says he gets a thrill out of being challenged in that way.

I have one of those, too, Susan, but I have it hanging on my bookcase by my collection of JAFF books. I didn't want to start using it because I was afraid that Theo's handsome face might become scratched. Heaven forbid that should happen!

Yes, I totally agree on that. Will there be a sequel to The Darcy Brothers, Susan?

It's good to learn some of the answers to the interview. Now I know why Theo is a barrister and not working in some other gentlemanly profession. I had a fantastic time following the story as it unfolds on Austen Variations blog.